Compare towns
Dedham vs Ipswich vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Ipswich | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
13,930Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ipswich | Swampscott |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.